Method of determining a user presence state

Abstract

A method of determining a user presence state includes in a telephonic device, for use by a user to receive and transmit an acoustic wave, detecting orientation of the telephonic device to signal the user's presence state to a caller. The telephonic device may be a headset, wherein the relative orientation of a headset microphone to a headset earpiece determines a user presence state signal to be sent, or the telephonic device may be a handset and the gravitation orientation of the handset determines a user presence state signal to be sent. Exemplar user presence state signal include “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking,” “Listening,” “Busy,” and “Gone.”

1 . A method of determining a user presence state, comprising: 
 in a telephonic device, for use by a user to receive and transmit an acoustic wave, detecting orientation of the telephonic device to signal the user's presence state.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the telephonic device is a headset and the relative orientation of a headset microphone to a headset earpiece determines a user presence state signal to be sent.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the user presence state signal to be sent is taken from the group of user presence state signals consisting of “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking” when the orientation of the microphone is close to the mouth; “Listening” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position below the mouth, near the neck; “Busy” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position near the user's forehead; and “Gone” when the orientation of the microphone is at the back of the user's head.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the telephonic device is a handset and the gravitation orientation of the handset determines a user presence state signal to be sent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the user presence state signal to be sent is taken from the group of signals consisting of “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking” when the orientation of the handset is vertical; “Listening” when the orientation of the handset is face up; “Busy” when the orientation of the handset is on a side thereof; and “Gone” when the orientation of the handset is face down.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  which includes providing a manual override mechanism on a handset to allow operation by a user not in a vertical orientation.  
     
     
         7 . A method of determining a user presence state, comprising: 
 in a telephonic device, for use by a user to receive and transmit acoustic information, detecting the user's presence via the orientation of the telephonic device relative to gravity.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  where the presence information is sent to all people on a buddy list.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  where the presence information is sent a caller.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the telephonic device is a headset and the relative orientation of a headset microphone to a headset earpiece determines a user presence state signal to be sent.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the user presence state signal to be sent is taken from the group of user presence state signals consisting of “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking” when the orientation of the microphone is close to the mouth; “Listening” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position below the mouth, near the neck; “Busy” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position near the user's forehead; and “Gone” when the orientation of the microphone is at the back of the user's head.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the telephonic device is a handset and the gravitation orientation of the handset determines a user presence state signal to be sent.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the user presence state signal to be sent is taken from the group of signals consisting of “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking” when the orientation of the handset is vertical; “Listening” when the orientation of the handset is face up; “Busy” when the orientation of the handset is on a side thereof; and “Gone” when the orientation of the handset is face down.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  which includes providing a manual override mechanism on a handset to allow operation by a user not in a vertical orientation.  
     
     
         15 . A method of determining a user presence state, comprising: 
 in a telephonic device, for use by a user to receive and transmit acoustic information, detecting the user's presence via the orientation of the telephonic device's headset microphone relative to the headset earpiece.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  where the presence information is sent to all people on a buddy list.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  where the presence information is sent a caller.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the user presence state signal to be sent is taken from the group of user presence state signals consisting of “Listening and Able to Talk” or “Talking” when the orientation of the microphone is close to the mouth; “Listening” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position below the mouth, near the neck; “Busy” when the orientation of the microphone is in a position near the user's forehead; and “Gone” when the orientation of the microphone is at the back of the user's head.